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BELIEVER IS FOREVER LOVED BY GOD
Romans 8:35-39
Andres C. Guevara Jr.
January 28, 2024, SUN a.m.
We who are saved by grace through faith in Christ’s gospel had three enemies:
1. The flesh
In the previous section of Romans, Paul shows us that we believers in Christ are still a sinful and fleshly mess.
Some struggle with their pride.
Some struggle with their speech and cannot seem to control what they say.
Some struggle with their thoughts and let their minds think on things that are not good.
Some struggle with their actions, they do things that aren’t good.
We are still in our sinful nature and if we do not allow the Holy Spirit to control us, we will be a fleshly mess.
2. The world
We Christians still living in this evil wicked world, filled with entertainments, education and enticements that are all purposely designed to pull us away from God.
3. The Devil
The Devil is trying of use his tactics and weapons with his demonic forces to continually seek to destroy and deceive God’s children.
With all these strong enemies real in our Christian lives, if it were possible to lose our salvation, we would all lose it, because we sinned daily when our flesh dominates. But, thank God, it is not possible for a person who believed in Christ and got saved to lose salvation. In other words, it is the love of God that send Christ at the cross, it is the love of Christ that He suffers and died for us sinners, and it is the love of Christ that saves us when we believe Him as our Savior, and nothing is able to separate us from that that love of God in Christ. Nothing can take away God’s salvation from us. Notice the love of God mentioned three times in these 3 verses:
Romans 8:35,37,39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The noun “love” here is agape, not emotional type of love, not brotherly or parental love but it is God’s love, that highest kind of love that loves at the highest good and perfect love. That is the love that God has for His family and cannot be stopped. God may not always be happy with His children, but He will not ever stop loving His children.
Notice in our text the words in verse 35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"
Death involves separation. Death separates us from the love of Christ. Example, the physical body apart from the spirit is dead. The same is true if the believer separated from the love of Christ would be spiritually dead. But it is impossible to lose our salvation:
John 10:28-29 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.”
Notice carefully the word “us.”
Notice again in our text the words in verse 35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
Is there any force, anywhere, that can come between you and Jesus? Here the apostle Paul answers to the question that many people ask. Is there any way to lose your salvation? Who can remove us from Christ, once we fully come to Him?
As Paul mentioned many kinds of things that hit Christian and cause them to think that God doesn’t love them. Paul also uses the word “who” in verse 35. Notice that “who” is a masculine, singular, interrogative pronoun. Who do you think the one who would want a believer to think he has been separated from the love of Christ? Of course, it is not one who is a believer, this must be a reference to Satan. Satan wants the believer to think that God doesn’t care that God doesn’t love them and that God abandoned them when they committed sin.
What are those seven specific, negative catastrophe that may cause a believer think that they are separated from the love of Christ?
Paul writes two very powerful love realities that God wants His people to understand:
I – NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST – v.35-36
Romans 8:35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Paul had just listed in Romans 8:35 his personal experiences that are representative of what Scripture holds out as the "fortune" of God's people. This truth is 180 degrees opposite the health and wealth gospel that so many bible preachers and religious groups are falling prey to in our day and many people ignorantly deceived and misled around the world. Some denomination or cults hold the doctrine of full prosperity gospel that includes healing or the health and wealth.
Let’s consider some of these words that are used in this verse:
A. Some Believers may think that tribulation separated us from the love of Christ – v. 35b
Romans 8:35b “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
The noun “tribulation” refers to intense pressure brought about by outward circumstances and difficulties. Expectedly, the believers in the first century whom Paul addressed to were in tribulation experience due to severe persecution of Rome against Christians.
Tribulation in Greek “thlipsis” from “thlibo” means to crush, press together, squash, hem in, compress, squeeze in turn derived from thlao which means to break, originally expressed sheer, physical pressure on a man. Thlipsis is a strong term which does not refer to minor inconveniences, but to real hardships.
Medically, “thlipsis” was used of the pulse (pressure). It is a pressing together as of grapes. It has the idea of being squeezed or placed under pressure or crushed beneath a weight.
ILLUSTRATION: According to the ancient law of England, those who willfully refused to plead guilty, had heavy weights placed on their breasts, and were pressed and crushed to death, this was literally “thlipsis.” Thlipsis thus refers not to mild discomfort but to great difficulty.
Satan is out to crush God’s people. Satan is out to put the believers under tremendous pressure in business, relationship, sickness, job, finances.
When pressure boxes us in, we may begin to think we aren’t loved by God. God says “just remember nothing that separate you from My love.”
B. Some Believers may think that distress separated us from the love of Christ – v.35c
Romans 8:35c "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
The word “distress” refers to difficulty, distress, anguish, crushing difficulties.
II Corinthians 4:8 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;”
The word “distress” in Greek “stenochoria” from “stenos” means narrow and “chora” means place, is literally a narrow space and figuratively describes the “tight places” believers have to go through. “Stenochoria” has in view the distress which arises from within and usually caused by thlipsis (tribulation or intense pressure), such as anguish or discomfort.
The word “stenochoria” has to do with mental anxiety. This word “stenochoria” emphasizes things that cause mental stress.
ILLUSTRATION: A person finding themselves in a tight corner without the possibility of escape, this severe confinement or constriction causing anguish or severe distress.
There are moments when a man seems to be in a situation in which the walls of life are closing round him. Most people do not know what to think or where to turn when they find themselves under stress.
1) Billions of money people spent a year on treatment for psychiatric problem.
2) Millions of money people spent a year to calm the mind of person caused by mental drugs.
3) Many people are undergoing nervous breakdowns.
4) Some people are trying to cope with stress that turn to alcoholism.
5) Many deaths ended the lives of people who committed suicides for they cannot cope mentally stresses of life.
Paul knows that these believers in Rome who were experiencing distresses due to heavy persecution of Rome, can possibly think if God cares, so Paul wants them not to forget that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
One of the reasons why people experienced distresses is that people do not feel loved. When this mental anxiety attacks, it is critical for a believer to think, that “Jesus loves me and nothing can separate me from that love of Jesus.”
C. Some Believers may think that persecutions separated us from the love of Christ – v.35d
Romans 8:35c "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
The word “persecution” refers to a person being persecuted or pursued because of their faith in Christ. Persecution means chasing after believers to hurt and to harm them as believers they desire to live a godly life in Jesus Christ, but these persecuted believers are not forsaken by the Lord and not destroyed without God’s permission (2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”; 2 Corinthians 4:9 “Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”).
The word “persecution” in Greek “diogmos” from “dioko” to pursue which means to put to flight or to pursue with repeated acts of enmity. The books of the Gospels teach that persecution “diogmos” arises because of the word Mark 4:17 “ And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.”; Mark 10:30 “But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”
Paul reminds Christians that persecutions are not electives (II Corinthians 1:6).
II Corinthians 1:6 “And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.”
Persecutions are part of the required curriculum of discipleship in the school of Christ.
Listen to Christ’s warning to His disciples:
John 15:19-20 “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”
John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”
Luke 21:17 “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.”
In this school of discipleship even a man enemies will be the members of his household.
Matthew 10:36 “And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.”
Paul faced the persecutions of his old friend everywhere that caused imprisonment or chains and afflictions awaits him.
Acts 20:23 “Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.”
When we find ourselves in the situation that we are being persecuted, it is critical to know we are love by the Lord, this is the same case with the persecuted believers in that first century who were the recipients of Paul’s Roman epistle.
D. Some Believers may think that famine separated us from the love of Christ – v.35e
Romans 8:35c “ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
The word “famine” refers to a disaster in which a famine hits and food production stops.
The word “famine” in Greek “limos” from “leipo” destitute which means to fall short, be destitute or be in need and it can refer to a literal hunger or famine, and in a metaphoric sense one’s mind might be said to be “hungry, starved.”
The believers suffer and experienced severe famine in the first century being not valued, despised, oppressed, being persecuted by the Romans government and society administered by Claudius Caesar knew what famine was all about, but not even natural disasters can separate us from the love of Christ.
Acts 11:28 “And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.” The word “dearth” here is the same word for famine.
According to this verse, a literal famine did hit the Roman world during the reign of Claudius (AD 41-54) and it certainly would have affected many believers. When you are wondering if you will have enough food, it can cause you to wonder if God cares. It may cause believers to think that famine separated us from the love of Christ.
E. Some Believers may think that nakedness separated us from the love of Christ – v.35f
Romans 8:35c “ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
This word “nakedness” in Greek “qumnotes” from “gumnos” that is naked which means to be destitute condition, destitute of convenient or decent clothing, lack of sufficient clothing, deficiently clothed or partly clothed or without clothing, extreme poverty. Then it meant a lack of clothes simply because one had no ways or means of getting any.
Now for the most part, the concept of nakedness in our day is connected to immorality, not so much poverty. However, in the first century, nakedness was connected to poverty. Many of the Believers had very little financially and had trouble having sufficient clothing due to intense persecution against Christianity that affects their daily food and poverty that they cannot even buy their clothes as they were rejected by the society under the reign of Claudius Cesar of Romans. That pitiful situation, Believers thinks about nakedness in their lives.
When Christians live in this wicked world that supports and promotes indecency, abominable and become proud of immoral things, Christian may have a tendency to think that they alone and no one understand and God doesn’t care.
When Christians live in this world that features some celebrities who don’t care about God, who spend thousand and millions of money for Louis Vuitton shoes or thousands amount of money on a Louis Vuitton dress or thousands or even millions amount of money for Rolex watch, or spend millions and millions amount for most expensive car Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, whereas we are trying to juggle income to give to the Lord and pay bills and buy groceries and put gas in the car, then we can begin to think we God doesn’t care about our needs and situation. We don’t see God’s goodness and faithfulness upon us!
F. Some Believers may think that peril separated us from the love of Christ – v.35g
Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
The word “peril” in Greek “kindunos” from “kineo” to move which means danger. In fact, peril means jeopardy, perilous danger.
I Corinthians 15:30 “And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?”
The word “peril” implies a dangerous thing that puts one in peril to try and survive.
The Greek word “kindunos” mentioned 9 times in 2 verses (Romans 8:35; II Corinthians 11:26).
Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
II Corinthians 11:26 “In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;”
There are times Christians face dangerous, life-threatening situations. Mass shootings, robberies, dangerous surgeries, illnesses, accidents, situations, people and environment all can threaten Believers. On those moments, the Lord Jesus wants to say to all Christians “I want my beloved people to know that I love them no matter what.”
Paul writes to this first century Christians during the reign of Claudius Caesar of Rome that intensify the extreme persecution that put the believers in perils that threaten their lives. This is the condition where some believers may think that those perilous dangers separated them from the love of Christ. Thus, Paul encouraged them and made them aware of the unfailing love of God.
G. Some Believers may think that sword separated us from the love of Christ – v.35h
Romans 8:35c “ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
The word “sword” in Greek “machaira” if applied literally would speak of execution. The word “sword” refers to death by the sword. The “sword” or “Machaira” was a weapon used for murder and killing. There are brutal people and things in this world that will kill us and as we see and experience it, we can begin to ask if God cares for us and are loved by God. The devil wants the believers to think that sword separated us from the love of Christ.
Acts 12:2 “And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.” Speaks of king Nero killed James. James the brother of John was certainly thankful for encouraging truth of Romans 8:35 that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
To apply execution literally, it is the only item on the list that at first Paul had not yet personally experienced in the course of living for Jesus and preaching the gospel (I Corinthians 4:11 “Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;”; I Corinthians 15:30 “And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?”). However, according to tradition since Paul was a Roman citizen, so Paul could not be crucified like the way Peter and other Apostles was crucified, and thus at later times of his life Paul experienced execution by beheading, Paul’s head was cut off like John the Baptist as he was executed with a sword.
This word “machaira” was found in 26 verses:
Matthew 10:34; Matthew 26:47; Matthew 26:51; Matthew 26:52; Matthew 26:55; Mark 14:43; Mark 14:47; Mark 14:48; Luke 21:24; Luke 22:36; Luke 22:38; Luke 22:49; Luke 22:52; John 18:10; John 18:11; Acts 12:2; Acts 16:27; Romans 8:35; Romans 13:4; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12; Hebrews 11:34; Hebrews 11:37; Revelation 6:4; Revelation 13:10; Revelation 13:14.
Paul in order to make his point, he quotes Psalm 44:22 in Romans 8:36 of our passage.
These complete sevenfold series of catastrophes listed in Romans 8:35, all of which were experienced by the apostle Paul, and have been common experience of many believers as well. These seven items in the list could be in various ways taken and used by Satan and tempt believers to have hatred and think that God doesn’t care but in reality these things mentioned cannot interrupt and separate us from the love of Christ.
The writer of this book of Romans experienced personally all these items in the list and could speak from experience (II Corinthians 6:4-10; II Corinthians 11:26; II Corinthians 12:10). In spite of tremendous battles with these things, yet Paul learned in those things that God loved him so much and Paul knew that the love of God in Jesus Christ could reach and sustain the heart through them all. So, Paul wrote to these Christians during severe persecution against Christians who were suffering into the hand of the Romans, to think that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
II – NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST FOR US – v. 37-39 Romans 8:37-39 "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” There was a contrast between verse 36 and verse 37. In verse 36, we are as slaughtered sheep. In verse 37, we are more than conquerors. Notice the words in verse 37 “we are” means right now this is true. And the words “in all these things” means in the midst of all the difficulties we triumph mentioned in verse 35. And the words “more than conquerors” means hyper conquerors, super conquerors, super victors, super overcomers. It refers to one who gains a surpassing or an overwhelming victory, the one who wins a most glorious victory. Believers are not just overcomers; we are more than overcomers. Believers are not just victors; we are more than victors. The Greek word “hupernikao” from “huper”. Compare the English words “hyper” and “super” and the verb “nikao” which means to overcome, to have the victory which is the same word used for overcomers in Revelation 2-3. Believers are not just overcomers; we are more than overcomers. Believers are not just victors; we are more than victors. In light of this wonderful truth, how could anyone say that believers are not overcomers. It is not true that believer is less than an overcomer, but the truth is all believers are more than overcomers. Overwhelming victory is ours as believers. Notice in verse 37 “through him that loved us,” In verse 35, it is Christ Himself who loved us. So, through Christ we are more than conquerors. In our self we fail but in Christ we triumph.
II Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”
Notice the words in verse 38 “I am persuaded.” It is a verb, perfect passive which means God had convinced Paul at a point in the past and Paul continued to be convinced at the present and on in the future. What Paul made sure of or convinced of was nothing could separate a believer from the love of Christ for them. Ten things that could cause believers to wonder if God loved them: A. Death – v.38a
Romans 8:38a "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,”
Death in Greek is “thanatos” from “thnesko” to die. “Thanatos” literally describes the separation of the soul (the spiritual part) from the body (the material part), the physical body ceasing to function and turning to dust (but one day to be glorified when Christ comes).
Death is an obvious antagonist, for people have always feared it. It is so certain and so final. It is obvious that no one can escape it, and it is easy to be scared of what lies on the other side.
Why Believers doesn’t need to fear Death:
1. Believers are eternally justified by grace through faith and have righteousness of Christ.
Death speaks of separation of man from God, when Adam died spiritually because of disobedience.
Genesis 2:17 “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Paul explained that Adam’s death sentence fell on all mankind.
Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
Because believers are eternally justified by grace through faith and have the righteousness of Christ, they never need to fear the separation from God which Adam first experienced in the Garden of Eden.
Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Romans 3:22-24 “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”
2. Believers are passed from death unto life as Jesus promised.
John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
The word “Thanatos” (death) here referring to that state of separation that first existed between Adam and God and was passed on to all of Adam’s descendants into life.
3. Believers cannot be separated by death from the love of God as Lazarus the beggar goes to Abraham bosom.
Luke 16:22 “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;”
We see Lazarus eternal destiny contrasted with the rich man eternal destiny.
4. Believers cannot be separated by death from the love of God as the repentant thief on the cross.
Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Death could not separate the repentant thief on the cross, Jesus promised.
5. Believers cannot be separated by death from the love of God as Lazarus the friend of Jesus come forth.
John 11:43 “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.”
6. Believers have no need to fear death as much of the New Testaments bears on this truth.
John 8:51 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.”
John 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
John 11:25-27 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
7. Believers are delivered by the death of Christ that had destroyed the devil who had the power of death.
Hebrews 2:14-15 “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
If we notice, Paul first mentioned “death” because it is man’s greatest fear. Hebrews 2:15 “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Truly, death is the king of fears. God did not promise and never say that He will keep believers from physical death but God said that physical death will never separate the believer from God. In fact, death is actually the doorway of the believers in Christ to enter into the very presence of God where all the believers will really know God’s love more and more in eternity. If Christ’s love can hold us in and through death, what is left for us to fear?
Philippians 1:21,23 "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:” Paul could say “to die is gain,” he looked forward to dying and being with Christ. There is no reason why the believer should fear death.
II Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
Paul is desirous to be absent from his physical body and be in the presence of the Lord.
Psalms 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”
Illustration: The closest relation on earth, the marriage bond has an end. Marriage is only “until death us do part.” But the relation between Christ and the sinner who trusts in Christ, never ends. It lives when the body dies. The relation between Christ and Christian lives when flesh and heart fail. Once begun, once a sinner got saved it never withers. The salvation relationship of a believer to the Savior is only made brighter and stronger by the grave.
With the exception of those believers who are alive when Christ comes for His church, God does not remove physical death. (I Corinthians 15:51-52 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”) what God removes is the sting of death (I Corinthians 15:55 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”). In death of the believers, they have fellowship with God who has disarmed death of its sting, and destroy the devil that had the power of death. It is God’s messenger His angel to bring the believers home to God Himself. Death dissolves the earthly house of their tabernacle, but introduces the believers into their house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (II Corinthians 5:1-4 “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life”).
Death discharges the soul from the burden of sin, that soul may be clothed with perfect holiness, for death although the effect of sin, death is the occasion of slaying and destroying sin in the believer. Without the sting of death, death is nothing to be feared.
B. Life – v.38b
Romans 8:38b "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,”
Life is intimidating and can be depressing. Think of living life in a corrupt world and we have a corrupt flesh. Can that mean God stop loving us?
The word “life” in Greek “zoe” which is the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body. Life is a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate beings. Paul uses of “zoe” refer most to the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which alone belongs to God the Giver of life.
Paul reminded the saints at Colossae in Colossians 3:4 “When Christ, who is our life,” and reminds Timothy in I Timothy 1:1 “Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;” Of course, it is clear that the sense of “life” or “zoe” in Romans 8:38b does not refer to this passages that tells us that Jesus Christ is our life and our hope.
What then does Paul mean when “life’ cannot separate us from the love of Christ for us? Paul means that life does not seem to be a hindrance as we naturally think of life positively, for we usually consider life as a wonderful and blessed thing to live. Therefore, the question is how could life be dangerous? The dangerous life that Paul is telling us is not referring to our life in Christ that is mentioned in Colossians 3:4 “our life” and I Timothy 1:1 “our hope” and also referring not to our future life in eternity, but is referring to our present life here in this earth, where we face real dangers in our spiritual life. Paul is referring to a life with blandishments and trials of life. We believers are living on this earth as aliens and strangers with all the wicked and evil forces opposing Christ and opposing all believers. Why? The reason why there are opposing forces against us believers because we have eternal life in Christ Jesus that the threats in this present life are conquered. That is why the first enemy that Paul mentions which is “death” is not only can harm believers but the truth is death will deliver us from the dangers of this present life.
Going back to our topic “life”, Paul writes in Romans 14:7-8 “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.” Paul adds a very valuable thing on life in Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
May be some are puzzled why Paul listed “life” in the list, as people understand that death is opposite of life. But it is true that as many fear death, many are afraid of life. Life has lot of persecutions and trials, on the other hand life has tranquility and pleasures. Any of these two sides could be the means of having an apathetic attitude and seducing us away from the path of service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But nothing in life can stop God from loving us. Amen!
As a matter of fact, life is so much more difficult than death. Think of life with its burdens, with all its bitterness, its disappointments, its uncertainties, often with its physical miseries, as Job said in Job 7:15 “So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.” Job wants to say that he prefers to choose suffocation and death than his life, with his pains or his body. As death cannot separate us from the unchangeable love of God in Christ, the same is true of any circumstances of life, no matter how difficult or heavy trials will be able to separate us from the love of God for us.
C. Angels – v.38c
Romans 8:38c "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,”
The word ‘angels” in Greek “aggelos” or “angelos” strictly speaking messengers or those who speak and or act in place of one who has sent them. Although aggelos can refer to a man, but in this context, Paul is referring to a created supernatural being with power to carry out various missions or tasks, and to attend or serve as a messenger of superior supernatural entity.
Some theologians restrict their view to good angels, while other interpreters restricted this to evil angels. There is no reason why it should not include. Paul could be referring to the fallen angels, of whom Satan is one. On the other hand, the ancient world as many today practiced angel worship which could theoretically separate one from the love of God. Whether we speak of the elect angels of God’s power or whether it refer to the malignant or evil angels whose leader is Satan and are in team unity with the devil, still no angels can separate us from the love of God in Christ for us.
D. Principalities – v.38d
Romans 8:38d "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,”
The word “principalities” in Greek “arche” means the first ones, preeminent one or leaders. Arche speaks of those first in order of rulership in a community, “the first ones” in the town. The “arche” is an authority figure who initiates activity or process. Some theologians or commentaries interpret these rulers as referring to earthly civil rulers, but most interpret “arche” as alluding to a high order of demonic creatures that assist Satan in his warfare against God and God’s children. Despite of the elevated description of demonic forces, the child of God, the believers in Christ is more than a conqueror, more than a victor over these Satanic forces.
Paul taught the believers in Ephesus that because of their position in Christ, Paul explained to them that they were now engaged in an invisible war in Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Paul earlier explained to the believers at Ephesus in Ephesians 1:20-22 “ Which he wrought in Christ (Christ victory at the cross), when he raised him (Christ) from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all (not most but “all”) principality (or rule “arche”), and power and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all (again “all” emphasizes the totality of Christ’s authority) things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,” This could refers to ruling angels, prince angels. There is an ordered realm of unseen authorities, but none of these unseen authorities cannot do anything to separate us from God’s love in Christ.
All the principalities, through all creation, were to use their power against Christians, but it would not succeed. They have Christ on their side; who, then, can prevail against them? They will not and shall not separate us from the love of God in Christ for us.
E. Power – v.38e
Romans 8:38e “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,”
The word power in Greek “dunamis” from dunamai means to be able, to have power. Here in Romans 8:38 and in Ephesians 6:12 “dunamis” is used to represent an entity or being those functions with remarkable power. This could refer to powerful ruling angels. No angels or demons nor even Satan himself are able to separate the believer from Christ’s love.
I John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Believers are more than conquerors over those powerful angelic forces in light of such great doctrinal truth.
F. Things present – v.38f
Romans 8:38f "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,”
Things in the present world are all kinds of things in this world that do not care about God.
The words “things present” in Greek “enistemi” from “en” that is “in” “with” and “histemi” that is “to stand, to set, to place” which is literally to stand on, to place in, to set in something and to be at hand. In the book of Galatians it points to the present transitory age.
There is nothing that you are presently going through now that will be able to separate you from the love of Christ for you.
Example: In the case of Job, Satan dealt in “things present” and they were as bad circumstances occurred, but those present painful and hurtful things that Job experienced did not separate Job from the love of God until the end of the Lord with Job. It says in Job 42:12-13 “So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.”
G. Things to come – v.38g
Romans 8:38g “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,”
The words “things to come” in Greek “mello” to be about to or about to be. The idea is something is to take place at a future point of time.
There is nothing that you will ever face in the future that will be able to separate you from the love of Christ from you.
Things present separate us from things to come, and things to come separate and cut us off from things present, but neither can separate us from the love of God in Christ for us.
Example: In the case of David, Satan dealt in futures, things to come. David said in I Samuel 27:1 “And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: “ Yet David shortly sat on the throne.
Example: In the case of Elijah, Satan dealt in futures, things to come. Jezebel threatened in I Kings 19:2 “Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.” When Elijah saw that “that’s” of the devil, in says in I Kings 19:3 “And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life,” Yet God taken up Elijah (II Kings 2:1 “the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind”) by "a chariot of fire, and horses of fire”) by a whirlwind "into heaven" ((II Kings 2:11 “a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”).
We don’t know if we will die in the future or we are still alive when the rapture happened. We know we aren’t perfect and we struggle with our sinful old nature, so could God change His mind and stop loving us? What about future food shortages or power outages or bank collapses or inflation and recession? Could that stop God from loving and caring for His people?
There is nothing that you are presently going through now and there is nothing that you will ever face in the future that will be able to separate you from Christ and His love. Those who are Christ’s are joined to Him forever! Blessed union!
H. Height – v.39a
Romans 8:39a “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The word “height” in Greek “hupsoma” refers to that which is lifted high, something elevated. “Hupsoma can refer to the created sphere above the earth in which supernatural powers rule the height, world on high.
The mention of heights would certainly include heaven. Could any judgment coming out of heaven stop God’s love for us?
I. depth – v.39b
Romans 8:39a “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The word “depth” in Greek “bathos” literally indicates a deep place.
What about things from the deep? Things from Sheol or Hades? Could that stop God's love for us?
It could be figurative that neither the height of prosperity and preferment, nor the depth of adversity and disgrace, nothing from heaven above, no storms, no tempests, nothing on earth below, no rocks, no seas, no dungeons.
As far we go up or as far as we go down, in the lowest valley or on the highest mountain we will never find anything or anyone who will separate us from the love of Christ.
No dimensions of any kind can separate us from the love of God.
J. Any other creature – v.39c
Romans 8:39c “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The word “creature” in Greek “ktisis” from Ktizo. It means creation, creature that which has been created. Ktisis is like the English word “creation”.
Paul adds the words “nor any other creature” just to make sure he did not miss anything. In the strongest words Paul assures us of our complete safety in the love of God which is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ.
This word of Paul banishes all our fears and gives us peace because trouble and disaster that man faces is without limit. Nothing that God has made, whatever be its nature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Everything else is created thing and nothing that has been created, no matter how different in kind it may be, can top God from loving one who has believed in His Son.
We cannot overthrow God’s purposes for us, because we too are creations. We cannot separate ourselves, and no creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing has the capability and power to be able to separate us from the love of God which is found in Christ Jesus, our Lord. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are loved forever.
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